GALVESTON, Texas — A survey of National Institutes of Health grant funding received by medical school departments in 2011 ranked three University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston departments in the top 10 in their respective fields, and placed UTMB’s microbiology and immunology department sixth in the nation.

The report, produced by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, found that UTMB’s obstetrics and gynecology and pathology departments both came in eighth nationally in NIH awards in their respective categories. Two UTMB scientists received more total NIH funding in their areas than any other individual researcher in the nation: in microbiology, Galveston National Laboratory director James LeDuc; and in pathology, Dr. David Walker, principal investigator of the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Gary Hankins ranked 12th in NIH funding in obstetrics and gynecology. Seven other UTMB faculty members received grants that placed them in the top 50 of their respective disciplines for NIH awards.

“Congratulations to the departments and investigators on this remarkable feat. This is affirmation of the strength of our research program, and a credit to our productive faculty and their pioneering work,” said Dr. Donald Prough, interim vice president and dean of the UTMB School of Medicine.

The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research is a nonprofit organization that investigates basic biological science, clinical science and clinical care..